In keeping with the promise put forward in the federal government’s Human Rights Framework in 2010 to increase protection of human rights in Australia, the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (Cth) (‘the Act’) came into effect on 4 January 2012.

The Act introduces two significant changes to the way legislation is to be passed through federal parliament:

• It establishes a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (‘the Committee’) to examine Bills for compliance with certain human rights; and
• It requires a statement of compatibility to be prepared in respect of each Bill introduced into a house of parliament, which assesses whether the Bill is compatible with human rights.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, has concluded her country visit to Australia. Ms Ezeilo conducted her official visit from 17 to 30 November 2011 to examine the situation of trafficked individuals and anti-trafficking measures in the country.

Ms Ezeilo is an independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to advocate for the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims.

Ron Merkel QC has been announced winner of the prestigious 2011 Human Rights Medal at the Australian Human Rights Commission’s annual Human Rights Awards in Sydney. Meanwhile, a legal team comprising Allens Arthur Robinson, the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre, Debbie Mortimer SC and Richard Niall SC were awarded the Human Rights Law Award for their outstanding legal advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers.

Consumer protection legislation in Australia has, until recently, included different types of protection from ‘unconscionable conduct’ for consumers and for small businesses. From 1 January 2012, the Competition and Consumer Legislation Amendment Act 2011 amends sections 21 and 22 of the Australian Consumer Law (‘ACL’) and sections 12CB and 12CC of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (‘ASIC Act’) by replacing these different provisions with a unified prohibition on persons engaging in unconscionable conduct in trade and commerce.